‘Tutorial’ Category

  1. Botanic Collage Mica

    13th June, 2022 by iGirlZoe

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage

    Hello Friends, I hope this finds you well. Did you catch the Tim Holtz Stamp LIVE launch party on Saturday?! There were very early morning coffees and early evening cocktails being poured from the various world time zones while we took our front row seats for the show… If you missed the party, you can watch the replay and see all the maker inspiration over on Tim’s blog.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    I made this card using the new Botanic Collage stamp set (CMS447). I’m not usually drawn to the floral side of the force, but the newsprint background gives these stamps such a cool vibe for me that I had to use them.

    Let’s get into how I made it and the secret beneath the mica sheets! 😉

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    Ink up your stamp with antique linen distress ink or another very light distress ink and stamp onto the smooth side of distress watercolor cardstock.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    Choose the distress reinker colors you want to watercolor your stamped image with. Put a tiny drop of each on your glass media mat ready to pick up with your paintbrush to watercolor.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    As you watercolor the stamped image, you will see the antique linen stamped lines become less prominent. You don’t need to be too delicate with this, however, do try to stay within the lines-ish. I set the stamp next to me when I’m watercoloring so I can check the design where the stamped image lines are feint.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    I know it looks like a hot mess, but stay with me…

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    Place your mica onto your stamp platform. The Tim Holtz Tonic Media Grip Mat will keep the mica tile from moving. Magnets will work, but I wouldn’t use sticky grid because it makes a mess of the back of the mica. Position your stamp, ink with Stazon and stamp onto the mica tile. Because it’s Stazon ink, you will need to use stamp cleaner afterwards and then wash the stamp cleaner off with dish soap and water.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    Your mica tile is now ready to place over the top of your hot mess watercolor background.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    Ta Dah!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    I added a frame over the top and trimmed the mica to size. Using distress collage medium to attach the mica tile at the edges and leave the center to sit slightly above the background.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    I added a couple of stamped images from the new Eccentric stamp set (CMS448) which I am OBSESSED with!

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    I stamped the “handle with care” stamp with barn door distress archival ink once and then lightly touched the stamp with a black soot distress archival ink pad and stamped very lightly. I fussy cut and tucked under the background layer which I stitched.

    igirlzoe: tim holtz stampers anonymous 2022 botanic collage
    It’s a pretty quick card to make and you could easily adapt this to a slimline card or tag.

    Thanks for stopping by and let me know if you have any questions.
    Zoe

    …
    affiliate links used at no cost to you



  2. Tim Holtz inspired December Daily

    18th November, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends. I’m back with my third project for the Tim Holtz inspiration series. Throughout November and December Tim will be sharing projects by a group of talented crafters to provide some inspiration to get you creative during the holiday season. Follow Tim on facebook and instagram and his blog for the recap each Saturday.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Today I’m bringing you a handmade album created using the new Tim Holtz seasonal products, to fill with handmade pages ready for the start of December Daily on December 1st.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 1: I cut three panels measuring 5.5 x 7.5 inches / 2 x 7.5 inches / 5.5 x 7.5 inches using card I recycled from idea-ology packaging.
    Step 2: Adhere all 3 panels to the back of kraft stock from the Christmas kraft stock paper pad.
    Step 3: Using a sanding grip, lightly sand the edges of all 2 panels and blend in walnut stain distress ink.
    Step 4: Cut paper from the Christmas mini stash and stitch around the edges.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 5: Line up the 3 panels, making sure they are the correct way up, (especially if they have writing on like mine).
    Step 6: Turn the panels over, leaving a small gap between each panel, and adhere paper cut to 5.5 x 7.5 inches. The paper will cover the spine and each book cover, overlapping by 1.75 inches.
    Step 7: Add an idea-ology ring binder and fix into place using hitch fasteners.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 8: Gently bend the cover into a closed position.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 9: Stamp the gorgeous vintage santa from the Stampers Anonymous Christmas Classic stamp set onto mixed media heavystock with ground espresso distress archival ink. Cover with frayed burlap distress ink wash. Using a water brush, paint the holly leaves with peeled paint distress oxide and the berries with candied apple distress paint.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 10: Using the Sizzix Festive Greens thinlits set, die cut from classic kraft stock. Sand with a sanding grip and add a little vintage photo distress ink to the edges and sanded areas. Adhere with distress collage medium.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 11: Die cut “december” from the Sizzix Calendar Words Block thinlits set. Twice from distress mixed media heavystock and once from metallic kraft stock. Mount with the metallic die cut on top using distress collage medium.
    Step 12: Dab walnut stain distress paint onto the letters with a finger.
    Step 13: Once dry, tap a little vintage photo distress archival ink over the top. Rub gently to expose some of the metallic base.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 14: Draw a chalk line and adhere the “december” onto the front cover, along the line, using distress collage medium. Once dry, gently erase the chalk line.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Step 15: Add the 2017 to the spine of the album with distress collage medium. Once the album is stored, it’s an easy way to see which album is which. Making the cover has been so fun that I know I’ll want to make another next year.

    iGirlZoe: Tim Holtz Inspired December Daily
    Thanks for stopping by, I hope this has inspired you to pull out your Tim Holtz holiday supplies and make something. Don’t forget to catch up with all the projects from week 3 for more holiday inspiration. I’ll be back next week with some holiday cards and pages from the inside of this album.

    Have a great weekend!
    Cheers
    Zoe x

     



  3. Joy To The World

    13th November, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends. I’m back with another card for the Tim Holtz holiday inspiration series. Throughout November and December Tim will be sharing projects by a group of talented crafters to provide some inspiration to get you creative during the holiday season. Follow Tim on facebook and instagram and his blog for the recap each Saturday.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the WorldI created this holiday card by mixing the old with the new Sizzix dies by Tim Holtz. I wanted to create a card to send to family overseas this year and the globe die was a perfect match to santa and his sleigh die.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 1: Die cut a globe from distress mixed media heavystock with the Sizzix globe thinlits die.
    Step 2: Blend in vintage photo distress oxide over the land portions of the die cut.
    Step 3: Cover with distress embossing ink and pour over fractured iced embossing powder.
    Step 4: Gently tap off excess.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 5: Melt the embossing powder with a heat tool. The reaction it has with the distress oxide is SO COOL!

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 6: Blend faded jeans distress oxide into distress mixed media heavystock.
    Step 7: Blend iced spruce distress oxide over the top.
    Step 8: Blend vintage photo distress oxide into the edges.
    Step 9: Spritz with water using the distress sprayer and dry with a heat tool.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 10:  Die cut the background using the snow die from the winter wonderland thinlits set.
    Step 11: Cut a piece of printer paper slightly larger than the background and brush distress collage medium over the top.
    Step 12: Working quickly (collage medium dries FAST), place the background over the top of the printer paper and trim the edges. The collage medium dries clear and matte so you don’t see it.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 13: Die cut a frame from metallic kraft stock using the stitched rectangle thinlits die.
    Step 14: Using a sanding grip, carefully sand the frame, exposing the kraft core below the metallic surface.
    Step 15: Blend vintage photo distress ink into the frame with a mini blending tool.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 16: Die cut santa and his sleigh from metallic kraft stock using the village christmastime thinlits die.
    Step 17: Very carefully sand the edges of the die cut with a sanding grip.
    Step 18: Blend vintage photo distress ink into the edges and mount using 3D foam.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 19: Using classic kraft stock, die cut greenery using the festive greens thinlits die set. Layer up and adhere using distress collage medium. Die cut the small bow using the fold-up bows thinlits die set and mount over the top of the greenery. Splatter with picket fence distress ink using a spatter brush.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Step 20: This sentiment from the idea-ology quote chips was perfect for my card. I swiped vintage photo distress ink directly onto the edges and rubbed it over the top with my finger. I swiped the ink pad onto my non stick craft sheet and picked it up with the spatter brush to try to create aged brown spots.

    iGirlZoe: Joy to the World
    Thanks for stopping by, I hope this has inspired you to pull out your dies and make something. Don’t forget to catch up with all the projects from week 2 for more holiday inspiration. I’ll be back soon.

    Cheers
    Zoe x



  4. Sidekick Sunday Step by Step

    12th November, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends! As some of you will know, I’ve been taking a little break from my regular Design Team position with Frilly & Funkie, until the new year. But today I am popping back to bring you a special SIDEKICK SUNDAY STEP BY STEP with Christmas gift tags using the new Sizzix Sidekick by Tim Holtz.

    iGirlZoe: Sidekick Sunday

    If you would like to see the step by step in full, pop over to Frilly and Funkie.

    Have a great week ahead.
    Zoe x



  5. Mr Pumpkinhead

    16th October, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Have you met Mr Pumpkinhead? He’s a bit of a merchant… of what though, we don’t know ….and don’t dare to ask!!

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Thank you so much for your kind comments about this card I made for the Tim Holtz Halloween inspiration series. Here’s a step by step to show you how he was made…

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 1: Cut a piece of distress mixed media heavystock 3.25 x 5 inches. Cover with antique linen distress ink using a blending tool.
    Step 2: Blend in a little mustard seed distress ink.
    Step 3: Squish broken china distress ink onto a non stick craft sheet and spritz with water using a distress sprayer.
    Step 4: Tap the heavystock into the ink. Dry with a heat tool.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 5: Blend a little vintage photo distress ink lightly over the background.
    Step 6: Edge with walnut stain distress ink.
    Step 7: Spray big water droplets over the background. Dry with a heat tool.
    Step 8: Tap the heavystock into the broken china droplets again if required.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 9: Blend more vintage photo distress ink over the background.
    Step 10: Edge with more walnut stain distress ink, this time blending a little further into the center.
    Step 11: Spritz with water and immediately pat dry with kitchen roll (paper towel) to lift the ink and leave a bleached spots.
    Step 12: Stitch around the edges with a sewing machine.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 13: Using the Tim Holtz stamp platform for exact placement, stamp the gear stamp from the dapper stamp set in potting soil archival ink.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 14: Lightly swipe the edges with a black soot distress archival ink pad to give the background a kind of vignette.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step15: Stamp the hat/suit and merchant stamps from the dapper and pumpkinhead stamp sets using the Tim Holtz stamp platform, with black soot distress archival ink on mixed media heavystock.
    Step 16: Make masks for the pumpkinhead stamps by stamping onto a sheet of plain paper and fussy cutting.
    Step 17: Cover the pumpkinhead stamped image with the corresponding mask. Turn the stamp upside down overlapping the bottom of the stamp and stamp again.*
    Step 18: Move the stamp down and stamp a third time.*

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    *The additional stamping under the pumpkinhead creates a shadow that will create a neck to sit under his suit.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 19: Fussy cut the merchant stamped image with tonic mini scissors.
    Step 20: Blend a little antique linen distress ink over the top. Edge with potting soil archival ink.
    Step 21: Watercolour the hat and suit with faded jeans and rusty hinge distress markers using a water brush.
    Step 22: Fussy cut and edge with vintage photo distress ink.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 23: Watercolour the pupkinhead with rusty hinge and fossilized amber distress markers.
    Step 24: Fussy cut, creating a neck to slip under the shirt and edge with vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 25: Using a distress spritzer tool, spritz gathered twigs distress marker over the pumpkinhead.
    Step 26: Adhere the pumpkinhead onto the card and mount the hat and shirt over the top and the merchant sign underneath.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    Step 27:  Blend vintage photo distress oxide ink into the edge of a kraft card, spritz with water to oxidize the ink and dry with a heat tool.
    Step 28: Using a sanding grip, sand metallic kraft stock and blend in vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 29: Sand the edges of classic kraft stock and blend in vintage photo distress ink.
    Step 30: Blend vintage photo distress ink into the edges of the cork.

    iGirlZoe: Mr Pumpkinhead
    I hope you enjoyed this step by step and have been enjoying the inspiration series you can follow along on Tim’s facebook and instagram with a weekly recap on Saturday on his blog. Thank you so much for the lovely comments you’ve been leaving here and on social media on my inspiration series projects.

    Cheers
    Zoe x

     



  6. Frilly & Funkie: Haunted For Life

    7th October, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. I’ve been taking a little break from my regular Design Team position with Frilly & Funkie, until the new year. But today I am popping back to bring you a SATURDAY STEP BY STEP with a Halloween themed card using some of the new Halloween stamps by Tim Holtz.

    iGirlZoe: Haunted For Life
    If you would like to see the step by step in full, pop over to Frilly & Funkie.

    Have a great weekend.
    Zoe

     



  7. Frilly & Funkie: Salvaged

    3rd June, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. It’s been a while since I blogged. I’ve been taking a little break from the my regular Design Team position with Frilly & Funkie, until returning permanently in the new year. Today I am popping back in to bring you a SATURDAY STEP BY STEP with a sea themed card to celebrate one year living by the sea in Copenhagen.

    iGirlZoe : Salvaged
    If you would like to see the step by step in full, pop over to Frilly & Funkie.

    Have a great weekend.
    Zoe

     



  8. Frilly & Funkie: Travel Postcard

    8th April, 2017 by iGirlZoe

    Hello friends! I hope your weekend is off to a good start. Today I have a SATURDAY STEP BY STEP over at Frilly & Funkie with a little travel themed inspiration.

    iGirlZoe : Travel Postcard
    If you would like to see the step by step in full, pop over to Frilly & Funkie.

    Have a great weekend.
    Zoe

     


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  9. Scribble Woodland Deer Card

    13th September, 2016 by iGirlZoe

    Hello. I’m back again with another sample card that I made for the Tim Holtz facebook LIVE event on Friday, where he showcased his incredible new Stampers Anonymous holiday stamps and stencils. If you missed the live event, you can still watch it on replay and see the stamps on Tim’s blog.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer CardYesterday I shared another sample that I made using the gorgeous new Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamps and stencils. Here’s how I created this sample…

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    Die cut an oval. Blend antique linen distress ink into the frame and walnut stain distress ink onto the edges. Colour the snowflake stamp with stormy sky distress marker**, spritz lightly with water and stamp onto the frame. Repeat creating a random pattern, making sure you dry the stamp before adding more distress marker. Once completely dry, blend a VERY LIGHT layer of vintage photo distress ink over the top to give an aged look.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    **TIP* you will need to “season” your stamp first. Ink with archival ink and stamp twice onto kitchen paper and set aside to dry. If you don’t do this, distress ink and distress markers will just bead on the stamp and you won’t get a clear image! Go on! You can do this! You can always clean the stamp afterwards… but I would leave it “seasoned” and spend the time crafting instead. 😉

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    On the reverse side of the birch stencil scribble on pumice stone, iced spruce and stormy sky distress markers and spritz with water. Turn the stencil over onto the smooth side of distress watercolor cardstock. Place a piece of kitchen paper over the top and smooth out with your hands. Carefully lift the stencil off the cardstock and air dry or with a heat tool.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    Position the stencil back over the dried cardstock and secure with tape. Scribble pumice stone and stormy sky distress markers directly onto a non stick craft mat and pick up with a waterbrush and brush through the stencil. Carefully remove the stencil and dry the cardstock. Once completely dry, drawer along the outline of the birch trees with the fine tip of a frayed burlap distress marker and then go over with a waterbrush to soften the lines and create shadow. Blend weathered wood distress ink around the edge of a slightly larder piece of distress watercolor cardstock than the frame and edge with walnut stain distress ink. Mount the frame over the stenciled birch background and on top of the edged watercolor cardstock.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    Stamp a sentiment onto a strip of distress watercolor cardstock with vintage photo distress archival ink. Blend in weathered wood distress ink and edge with vintage photo distress ink. Mount the strip over the bottom of the oval part of the frame. Leave the top center part unstuck to slip the deer under slightly. Stamp 2 deers onto distress watercolor cardstock and fussy cut. Cover one with vintage photo distress marker and watercolor the other carefully with a variety of brown tone distress markers. Glue the detailed deer head over the other and adhere to the front of the card just tucking slightly under the sentiment strip.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Deer Card
    Cover an adornment snowflake with picket fence distress paint and dab away excess with kitchen paper. Attach the snowflake to the sentiment strip with glossy accents.

    Thanks for stopping by. I’ll be back tomorrow to share my take on this week’s challenge over at Frilly & Funkie. If, like me, you adore this deer stamp, be sure to stop by and checkout Bobbi Smith’s stunning card sample created for the Tim Holtz facebook LIVE event over at Vintage Muse Designs.

    Zoe


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  10. Scribble Woodland Christmas Card

    12th September, 2016 by iGirlZoe

    I am delighted to share a card sample that I made for the Tim Holtz facebook LIVE event on Friday, where he showcased his incredible new Stampers Anonymous holiday stamps and stencils. If you missed the live event, you can still watch it on replay and see the stamps on Tim’s blog.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    I absolutely LOVE the new stamps and stencils and I can’t wait to create this years Christmas cards and holiday home decor with them. Here’s how I used some of them to create this sample…

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 1: Cut an oval using the sizzix stiched ovals thinlits dies from distress watercolor cardstock.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 2: Lightly blend weathered wood distress ink through the birch stencil from mini stencils set 21 using a mini blending tool.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 3: Draw lightly along the outline of the birch trees with the fine tip end of a frayed burlap distress marker. TIP* you could trace the outline using the stencil, but the imperfections of freehand make it look more natural and less “stenciled”

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 4: Edge the card and oval with walnut stain distress ink using a mini blending tool.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 5: Go over the frayed burlap marker lines with a water brush to soften the lines and create shadow.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 6: Colour the back of this stamp from the scribbled woodlands CMS282 stamp set with gathererd twiggs, peeled paint and stormy sky distress markers. Spritz with water and stamp onto distress watercolor cardstock.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 7: Once dry, ink up the stamp with black soot distress archival ink and overstamp the watercolor image.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 8: Scribble frayed burlap, pumice stone and stormy sky distress markers onto a non stick craft sheet. Pick up the scribbled marker with a waterbrush and create a background wash onto the distress watercolor cardstock around the stamped image.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 9: Take a mini blending tool and VERY LIGHTLY blend vintage photo distress ink over the stamped background and birch stencilled frame to give a vintage hue. TIP* if your vintage photo distress ink pad is “juicy” blend away some of the excess onto scrap paper before blending over the top of the background and frame.

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Step 10: Lay the polka dot stencil from mini stencil set 20 over the card. Spread texture paste through the stencil with a palette knife and once completely dry, adhere the frame over the background. TIP* To get a more natural looking snowfall (card below), use the stencil vertically or horizontally, NOT at an angle (card above).

    iGirlZoe: Scribble Woodland Christmas Card
    Thanks for stopping by, I hope that you enjoyed this tutorial. I’ll be back tomorrow with a tutorial for another card sample that I made for Tim’s facebook LIVE post.

    Zoe

     


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